This came up on cnn.com today about exxon-mobil. I still stand by every thing i said before and if you can still say no gouging..its bs.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/27/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

 

there not gouging, they are just this years wildly successful buisness.

I'm no fan of regulation, but this **** is getting rediculous. there monopoly over the energy market is out of controle.

 

sooks no offense but i think you truely lack an idea of how E-M makes money.

Selling gas is only a part of what they do.

if you want to bitch bitch about the 50cents you pay to state and federal taxes.

if you want to bitch bitch to the complete fanatical nits that have decided to make war on everyone that is not of the same wacco religious sect as them.

 

Haha.. well i do have a serious problem with those religious waccos.. but there is no rationale to them or even to debate with them and i think we're mostly all on the same accord with that one.

so waht am i missing with the oil and EM?? There is a virtual monopoly on oil manufacturing and they can set the prices how they please which is just plain wrong. That is my point.

And sure i dont like the 50 cents for fedearl taxes on gas.. But that isnt changing nor has it really changed..its always been there.. THAT isnt the reason for the spikes in gas. And its not that i cant or have problems paying for the gas. (despite it is annoying dropping 40 bucks at the pump a week) but its more the principal of the fact they are taking advantage of the public which i dont like and should be regulated.

 

Forgive me, but I do not have Office on this system so i will type this tripe out here. Spelling grammar and other crap.... bite me you get what you pay for.

Here is Grouse's plan for reducing the cost of gas.

1) Lower the federal profit on a gallon of gas. Right now about 18cents is federal tax. That is twice the profit margin of Exxon Mobil. Exxon Mobil has a 9 cent profit margin. This last quarter they had their largest ever profit. Some 9 billion. That means our federal government had an 18 billion dollar profit from Exxon sales alone. Halve the federal profit margin to 9 cents per gallon to compete with private industry.

2) Standardize gas across this nation. Part of the reason gas is so high is that we have some 57 varieties made across the states. Make 3 levels of gas standardized to meet strict standards in 89,93,95 octane levels. Right now our few refineries must produce these (hienz 57 varieties) and ship them to their individual destinations. this is extremely expensive and in-efficient.

3) Build up to date refineries. We have built no new refineries in 30 years. Build Double the number of current refineries and phase out the old ones, as the old ones phase out replace it with a new one. This will allow us to have shorter pipelines, shorter transfer times and less confusion in gas when coupled with a nation gas standard.

4) Rebuild, and build newer faster pipelines for transporting gas, diesel, jet, and heating oil. Right now places like Oregon and Washington only have (if i remember correctly 2 pipelines) when one shuts down for required maintenance the price can spike as much as 10c due to a lack of supply. Federally scheduled maintenance can take 3 weeks or more.

5) Open up drilling on the off shore of California, and into the gulf of Mexico. yes we have some current rigs, but there are many more places that could be drilled using small foot print rigs. These sites are all past the visibility range from shore.

6) Open up Anwar on a rotational basis. Set up federal contracts for 50 years. Open up only 1/25 of Anwar at a time. Build the necessary pipeline infrastructure to support the new drilling.

7) Build more nuclear power plants, use vitirafacation tech to secure any waste material into an inert form for storage in Yucca Mountain like facilities.

8)pay pal me 100 usd for reading my diatribe.

 

I cant argue much of what youre saying there.. I agree with most of it.. And we should do most of it.. There isnt enough competition in the market nor is there any regulation.. that is what my problem is with it.

I do have a slight problem wiht your first step. Dont think you can really say their profit margin is 9c on the gallon. Id be apt to say maybe their profit margin has been 9 cents to the gallon on average. I dont think they have a SET profit margin.. it flexs on how they see fit. They see a possible scirmish.. they raise prices.. nothing happens then they had an increased profit margin. Now with waht the govt makes.. Its not a profit margin with them. A. Theyre not spending money on it.. a tax isnt a profit margin, its a tax. B. Now IDEALLY, that money isnt like its just a profit, its taken and used to better the country. Improve roadways/education system/etc. etc.. Now whether or not that really happens efficiently is up to debate..but that is what its SUPPOSED to do. So if you do take a cut from that then sure gas will be cheaper but we will also see a drop in many other niceities and services.


other tahn that i like most of it... But i do think there was some law or regulation preventing the building on new refineries.. cant remember details on it off hand.. it may have been localize to a certain area like the gulf of mexico.. but that could be another reason why.

 

or they could give all current audi owners a flat $1/gal price and **** everyone else. I like that one better.